Electric bulb socket



April 20, 1937. c. E. wlLsoN ELECTRIC BULB SOCKET Filed Feb, s, 195e 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 20, 1937. c.' E. wlLsoN 2,077,973 l l ELECTRIC BULB socKE'T l lriled Feb. l8, 1936 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. `20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT o FVFlcE This invention relates particularly to a. new electric bulb socket embodied in a new method and combination of devices for producing novel, useful, and pleasing decorative lighting eiects.

In general terms the invention consists of an airtight electric lamp or bulb socket so constructed and shaped to t the base contour of the electric bulb that no break of surface contour exists between electric bulb and socket.

l0 The specific purpose of this airtight socket, its

streamlined fitting to 'the light bulb, is to facilitate the insertion of the lamp bulb and a portion of the socket into andthrough the neck of a pre-inflated rubber semi-transparent balloon. In the preferred exemplication of the inven. tion, a rubber balloon having a neck opening about one-half the diameter of the greatest diameter of bulb and socket, is first inated and u then slipped over both bulb and socket until neck of balloon cornes yin contact with the stop rim at end of socket opposite electric bulb, the tip of the bulb having previously been lubricated with a pure vegetable oil or grease which eliminates the friction within the rubber balloon neck as it passes over the bulb and the socket, during lthe operation, and serves, with the contraction of the balloon neck upon the socket, to sealthe inflating gas or air within the balloon.

The socket, the bulb and the balloon may be varied in size and color, and the balloon used in a Variety of shapes and 'may carry printed legends, pictures, etc. The principlesof the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of certain approved embodiments of the invention.

In. the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the external contour of this novel socket showing bulb and balloon neck in place after being mounted.

Figure 2 is anI elevation showing a lateral cut section of the novel lsockel; showing internal shaping .and4 method of making an airtight socket with stranded wire conductors.

Figure 3 is an elevation showing a variation in manufacture whereby the female screw shell with conductor wires attached are molded into a solid rubber unit.

Figure 4 is an elevation showing an extension shaft molded as a unit with socket body for attaching socket to tube by inserting shaft within tube.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sketch showing method of preventing air leak through stranded wire conductor leads. i

Figure 6 is an elevation of a. series of electric lighted balloons, illustrating the pendant style of mounting this novel socket.

Figure 'l is'an elevation showing a modication in which stiff solid single wire,conductors` are employed. to secure rigidity where the novel 5 socket is used in an upright position.

Figure 8 is a further modification showingl socket attached to tube of paper, ber or metal, with an enlarged chamber in the end of the tube for enclosing batteries which are connected 10 within the tube by individually insulated wire conductors to the novel socket. l

Referring first tothe form of the invention as shown in Figure l. The assembly by way of example shows the body of the socket I, the l5 lamp bulb I2, and the balloon neck 3, stop rim d, and insulated conductor wires 5. A thin rubber balloon adapted to transmit light there-l through has a reduced neck portion through which the inflating medium is blown -before bef 20 ing assembled over bulb and socket. Similar balloons'heretofore known are held in inated condition by clamping or tieing the neck to pre-` vent the escape of the inilating medium.

According to this invention the inating me- 25 dium is sealed within the balloon by the contraction of the expanded neck portion upon the outer surface of the socket body without the use of other binding' or expanding elements. 'Ihe electric bulb 2, and socket I, are pushed into and 30 through the neck 3, without obstruction until the farther progress of neck 3 is prevented by contact with the abrupt stop rim 4.

It will be easily understood that with the expanded balloon neck 3 sliding along the cir- 35 cular surface from the tip of the bulb 2, over the larger portion of the bulb 2, that any substantial break or opening between bulb and socket I, will allow the balloon neck 3, as it advances from bulb 2, to socket I, t` sink or contract into such 40 opening and impede its progress onto the socke't I. The close contact'between socket I and bulb 2 ,eliminates this difficulty in this socket invention. Furthermore, the absenceof any rim, shoulder, hump, groove, abrasion, or obstruction along the 45 contour of socket I over which the balloon neck 3 advances, facilitates the movement of the balloon neck to stop rim. While this stop-rim 4 is of sufiicient vheight to act as a stop to the farther advance of the balloon neck 3, it is also 50 low enough to allow the thumb or finger when pushed across stop rim 4 toward the bulb, to contact the balloon neck 3, and start it'rolling toward bulb 2 and on over bulb, in which way the balloon is removed from the' assembly. The 55 absence of any rim, shoulder, hump, groove, abra- Vwithin a. semisolid rubber body in accordance sion or obstruction, as in mounting the balloon facilitates the mounting or removal of the balloon from the assembly.

It will be noted in Figure 1, that the contour of the novel socket I has a gradual lateral reverse curve starting with a slightly convex curve near bulb 2 -and changing to a more abrupt concave lcurve ending atstop rim 4, in which the balloon neck 3 is held in repose when mounted. The concave curve is an aid in preventing the balloon n eck 3 from slipping either toward the bulb 2 or upward over `the stop rim. This curve also prevents balloon neck 3 from being pulled off socket I prematurely either by hand or wind. A pull on the inated body of the balloon contracts the rubber at neck 3 and makes it grip socket I more tightly. With the convex curve against which the contracted neck binds when pulled, all danger of balloon becoming unmounted prematurely is eliminated. v,

Figure 2 shows a split or lengthwise cross-section of this socket invention giving a lateral view of body of socket I, standard female screw shell I4, conductor wires showing insulation 5, conductor wires showing insulation removed and each stranded wire soldered into a unit 6, concave cavity for light bulb base 1, and core opening lled with filling compound 8. 'I'his sketch shows the internal assembly of the socket invention with the socket body I formed from extruded rubber straightstock With/outside diameter and inside openingof proper size. On a mandrel it is cut and turned to shape externally, and with a series of machine cutters it is shaped internally. The female screw shell I4 is inserted with friction. Rubber in composition known as babycarriage tire stock is used for body I, for the reason that it machines easily, is a perfect insulator, air leak proof, practically indestructible and suiciently flexible to conform to the contour of any bulb which may vary in diameterl or one that may be made with the screw shell base mounted slightly off center.

Female screw shell I4 is standard in the various sizes from miniature to mogul size, and

may be either flanged at the opening or plain. When anged the flange fits snugly against the rubber body I at the inside terminus of cavity '1. Conductor wires 5 are stranded, exible and insulated. This type wire is provided where the novel socket I is intended to be used in pendant position which permits the assembly to hang perpendicular of its own Weight and permits swinging in breeze or air-current without danger of breaking conductorl wires 5. Insulation of con- .ductor wires 5 is allowed to extend within the core opening 8 of body I, so that it is cemented tight with the fllling compound thereby preventing the slipping of the insulation and exposure of bare conductor wires.

Conductor wires 6 within the body and connected to the female screw4 shell I4, while of stranded wire, have been made air tight by dipping them in molten solder-before being attached to female screw shell I4. When core'opening 8 in body I is lledwith melted filling compound, the socket is complete.

Figure 3 shows a modification of the novel socket I, being primarily a variation in mode of manufacture. Instead of using extruded prevulcanizedrubber for body, asin Figure 2, this invention may be made by moulding the body I of rubber to shape and contour enclosing the conductor wires 6. and 5 and female screw shell vI4 with common shop practice for moulded articles of this kind. A

Figure 4 is a lengthwise cross-section showing a modification of socket invention, being primarily a variation in form of molded body I, wherein an extension shaft or cylinder is molded as a unit with body I. Conductor wires 5 with insulation are enclosed withinthe extension shaft which is held by compression within tube I2. The extension shaft or cylinder may be varied in all diameters within the outside diameter of stop rim 4 on socket I. Variations in materials used for the body of this socket invention in any of its forms may include any material such as composition, wood, metal, rubber, synthetic rubber-bakelite, etc.l and its method of manufacture may vary according to accepted shop practice vfor the various materials used.

Figure 5 is a cross-section showing the results obtained through the immersion of the stranded conductor wires in molten solder to close the minute interstices which would normally exist between a cluster of round stranded wires. Dipping the wire first into soldering liquid and then into melted solder reduces all the Wires to a single unitv I6 around which the filling compound may now and contact.

Figure 6 illustrates a series of pendant assemblies. Feed Wires 9 to which are attached conductor Wires 5 support the socket, bulb and balloon I through its contact with socket I. of all members may be varied also spacing on feed wire 9, length of conductor Wire and shape of balloon I0. Also this novel socket may be at- 'tached to all approved systems of .wiring ar- .the exception, that solid stiff conductor Wires II are used at 5 and 6 in Figure 2, where stranded conductor wires are shown, to enable the novel socket to be used in an upright rather than a pendant position.` The stiif conductor wires II supporting the novel socket, bulb, and pre-inflated balloon I0, through contact between neck 3 and socket body. Insulation 5 is cemented in side body I, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a further modification showing socket invention attached to tube I2 of paper, ber or metal, by inserting tube into core opening 8, Figure 2. 'Ihe novel socket in this case is connected by conductor wires within the tube to battery in chamber I3 `at opposite end of tube, the bulb-and pre-inflated balloon I0 supported by neck 3 on socket completing the lightable balloon wand or staff for' being carried in the hand. A thumb switch flashes the light at will. All members may be varied in size and balloon I0 tube I2 and battery chamber I3 may be varied in form.

I claim 1. An airtight, valveless and ventless electric bulb socket having an outside unbroken length- Wise contour wherein a convex curve joins to a vgradually increasing concave curve and terminates in a stop ring at the conductor end of the socket, said socket having a flexible extension forming a concave opening for snugly receiving.

4eter from the tip to a point near the base, with an airtight, valveless and ventless electric bulb momen l y 3 socket which extends approximately irom the portion through which it ispreviously inflated,

greatest diameter of the bulb and is of such shape mounted over bulb and upon theconcave porthat the socket and bulb form an unbroken tion of the socket and in contact with the stop lengthwise contour which terminates at the end ring whereby said inflated balloon neck is held 5 of the socket in' a concave curve and a atop ring'. stationary` by its contractinz cy.

with a rubber balloon having an expansive neck CHARLES EMORY WILSON. 

